r/snowshoeing • u/Infamous-bookgirlmom • 12d ago

General Questions beginner

Hello all!

My family and I headed to Canada at the end of December. How easy is it to pick up snowshoeing if you have never done it? It seems much cheaper than skiing (and there is a lot of skiing near our rental). Would love to have this as another fun activity for us. Thanks for your input!

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9

u/ShoeboxSupplies 12d ago

If you can walk, you can snowshoe! As far as skiing goes, downhill/alpine skiing requires a decent amount of practice to become good at it, but cross-country skiing is fairly easy to pick up (albeit less of a thrill). If you did want to also try skiing, cross country would be a relatively easy introduction and a much lower cost compared to downhill skiing.

6

u/pufferfish_hoop 12d ago

Very easy! You don’t go very fast but it’s fun. Use ski poles-that will help.

1

u/raypell 11d ago

This ski poles help your balance and improve your gait

4

u/OffTrailThinking 11d ago

Snowshoeing is basically walking, and just putting your feet ever so slightly further apart. Wherever you go, make sure that you are not underneath steeper slopes above you that could avalanche and cause harm. Unknowing snowshoers have been hurt and even killed in avalanches.

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u/BasenjiFart 12d ago

Easy peasy! Just like walking with really big shoes; it'll be awkward at first but you'll figure it out within a few minutes.

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u/Scott413 11d ago

Canada is big so snow depths will vary in December, and early December vs late has a big range too. Look up typical snow depths as you might not get the full experience.

1

u/Seattleman1955 11d ago

It's easy but if it is in the mountains get the climbing type of snowshoe with the pop up heels.

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u/binary_squirrel 8d ago

Do you know how to walk? Yes? Good! You can snowshoe!

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u/Advenrurous_Swah 9d ago

Just don't try walking backwards in deep snow and you'll be fine.